Decorative storage frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A decorative storage frame assembly which has a single frame with a front peripheral channel formed about an opening through the frame, with one or more inserts replaceably and interchangeably mounted in a stacked relationship within the channel, each insert having an interior opening surrounding the frame opening, and having a different decorative face one of which is visible to the front of the frame; and wherein the frame has a rear inner channel formed therein about the opening, with at least one or more image carrying elements interchangeably mounted within the inner channel, the innermost element visible through the frame opening and through the insert&#39;s interior opening to the front of the frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a storage frame assembly embodying oneor more interchangeable decorative inserts stored in the front andperipherally about an image carrying member centrally of the frame.

[0005] 2. Background Art

[0006] The provision of a picture frame assembly wherein a decorativeplate mounted about the front periphery of the frame is removable, andis replaceable with another, different decorative plate is known to theart. This arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,498. However, asdescribed in that patent, only a single decorative plate may be mountedon the frame at a time. It is to an improved picture or like frameassembly, such as a trivet; for storing one or more decorative plateswhile exposing but one, and for providing the plates to be readilyinterchangeable without otherwise changing the frame assembly, that thisinvention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the invention, the decorative storage frameassembly includes a frame having an opening centrally formed therein,with a peripheral channel formed in the front face of the frame, andwith another channel formed about the opening in the rear of the frame;the rear channel being lesser in lateral dimensions than that of thefront channel and opening, and having a transparent element mountedwithin the rear covered over with an easel. Mounted within the frontchannel are one or more inserts, each insert having a differentdecorative face and adhesive means secured to the rear thereof; and witheach insert having a shape—in plan such that it may fit down, within thefront channel, whereby if a plurality, all the inserts may be removablymounted together, but easily interchanged to change decorative facesvisible to the eye. Mounted within the rear channel of the frame may beone or more image carrying sheets or plates, the image facing the frontof the frame so as to be visible through the transparent frame.

[0008] The principal object of the invention is to provide a system bywhich printing or engraving businesses can deliver to their customers avariety of picture frame products. The cost of the samples is greatlyreduced because of the minor cost of the inserts. Also, the cost ofprinting or engraving errors is reduced because of the expense of theinserts. Customer samples can also be shipped from printers andengravers at reduced rates because only one base frame needs to beshipped, along with several inserts. The versatility of this systemallows the printer or engraver to capitalize on the growing market forpersonalized picture frames. This market includes but is not limited tothe following: frames for all school events, vacation resorts, framesrepresenting vacation destinations, any memorable event in our lives,limited only to the imagination.

[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an inventorymanagement tool for merchants selling picture frames or the like. Forexample, approximately eighty percent (80%) of the cost of a pictureframe is in the frame itself, with the remaining twenty percent (20%)being the cost of an insert. However, as the decorative insert may setthe tone of the frame, the importance of choosing the right insertbecomes paramount.

[0010] By providing, nevertheless, for a single frame to be structuredto hold readily interchangeably not only one but a plurality of insertswith differing themes; although one insert, or even two, do not sell theframe, the third may, such that the opportunity for selling the morecostly frame is greatly enhanced. The inserts may also be customized forvarious occasions and events.

[0011] The end user of the frame assembly also shares the advantage ofchanging the theme of the frame at his/her desire, the change being at afraction of the original cost, by salvaging the frame itself.

[0012] It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide adecorative storage frame assembly of the aforesaid character which cancarry one or more and a variety of decorative face inserts.

[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide such anassembly which can also carry a plurality and variety of image carryingplates.

[0014] Another object of this invention is to provide such an assemblywherein the face inserts are readily interchangeable without affecting,changing or interfering with other parts of the frame assembly.

[0015] Yet another object of this invention is to provide such anassembly wherein the multiple inserts are mounted front-to-back in aattached manner in a peripheral channel formed in the front of the frameassembly, with but one insert visible to the eye.

[0016] A further object of the invention is to provide a decorativestorage frame assembly of the aforesaid character which is simple,inexpensive and long lasting.

[0017] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of and embodiment of the pictureframe assembly of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pictureframe assembly of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of still anotherembodiment of the picture frame assembly of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line4-4 in FIG. 3;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with certain elementstherein shown in exploded form; and

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rear side of an insert elementutilized in all embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 refers particularly to the decorative storage frameassembly of this invention and is generally referred to at (10), andcomprises a rectangular frame (11) having a rectangular opening (12)formed therein within a peripheral U-shaped channel (13) formed on thefront of the frame (11), an inner L-shaped channel (14) formed on therear (FIG. 4) of the frame (11), one or more rectangular decorativeinserts (16), (16 a) mounted within the front channel (13), atransparent pane (17) mounted within the rear, inner channel (14), oneor more image carrying sheets (18) also mounted within the rear, innerchannel (14) behind the pane (17), and a conventional easel (19)attached in one manner or another to the rear face (21) of the frame(11).

[0025] The frame (11) is formed of molding, having a bottom piece (22),side pieces (23), (24) and a top piece (26), and can be of wood, metal,plastic or other suitable material as desired. The pieces (22), (23),(24) and (26) are each cut at a 45° angle at the corners, and can besecured together in any suitable manner known to those in this art. Theframe may also be of one-piece molded material.

[0026] As shows best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the peripheral channel (13)formed on the face (27) of each piece (22), (23), (24) and (26) isidentical, the channel (13) formed between inner and outer convexlycurved, or rounded, extended profiles (28), (29) of the face molding ofthe pieces (22), (23), (24), (26), such that a rectangular channel (13)is formed having a predetermined width and depth about the front outerperiphery of the frame (11), all four faces (27) lying within the same,normally vertical plane. When mounted within the same channel (13), theinserts (16) are behind an imaginary plane across the outer edges of theprofiles (28), (29). Said imaginary plane is generally parallel to theplane of the faces (27).

[0027] The rear, inner channel (14) (FIG. 4) of the frame (11) is alsorectangular, being formed by like cutouts in the rear of all four pieces(22), (23), (24), (26), each cutout having a rear facing leg (31) and abase or bottom leg (32), such that all four legs (31) lie in the same,normally vertical plane, the cutout plane being parallel to and behindthe rectangular channel (13) of the face (27) relative to the front ofthe frame (11) as shown in FIG. 4. Again, the depth and width of therear channel (14) is predetermined, as was the depth and width of thefront channel (13) for purposes now described.

[0028] The depth particularly of the front peripheral channel (13)provides for the mounting therein not only of one but of a plurality ofrectangular, decorative inserts (16) (FIGS. 3 and 6). Each insert (16)may be an integral element, and may be of various wood specie orcomposite, leather, or metal. As best shown in FIG. 6, an insert (16)has a bottom (34) sides (36), (37), and a top (38), formed about anopening (40), the dimensions of the bottom (34), sides (36), (37) andtop (38) being such that the insert (16) may fit snugly within the frontperipheral channel (13), and up against each other in a face-to-backarrangement as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0029] To adhere to the faces (27) of the front channel (13), and toeach other, in order to retain a close, mounted condition as shown inFIG. 4, the inserts (16) have strips (39) of double sided adhesive, orsimilar self-adhering devices, secured to the back or rear sides (41)thereof. Depending upon the desire of the user, an insert (16) may ofcourse be permanently mounted; should the interchangeable featureeventually be discarded.

[0030] Importantly, the front decorative side or face (42) (FIGS. 1 and2) of each insert is different. Thus, insert (16) of FIG. 1 has onedecorative face, whereas insert (16 a) of FIG. 2 has a differentdecorative face. Although not shown, the faces of inserts (16 b) and (16c) (FIG. 5) would also be different from each other and from inserts(16) and (16 a). Further, the face (42) of an insert (16) may be blank,such that the user may apply a decoration of his/her own subsequent tomounting. Thus, one or a plurality of inserts (16), (16 a), (16 b), (16c), etc. may be carried and mounted within front peripheral channel(13), which inserts are readily interchangeable by merely pulling themout of the channel (13) and separating them from each other, rearrangingtheir positions relative to each other, and remounting the insertswithin the channel (13), with (16 c)—for example, then being theoutermost.

[0031] Likewise, with respect to the image carrying sheets (18), such asphotographs or the like, again depending upon the depth of the rearinner channel (14), as determined by the lateral distance between thepane (17), usually glass or any other transparent material, and theeasel flap (42) (FIG. 4) when closed, a plurality of sheets (18), (18a), for example of the same or varying thickness may be mounted andcarried within the channel (14). The requirement here is that the lengthand width of each sheet be limited to the height and width dimensions ofthe rear inner channel (14); which dimensions are both less than theheight and width dimensions of the interior edges (43) of an insertopening (40), see FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0032] For example, although not shown herein, the depth of frontperipheral channel (13) may be such as to place its face (27) behind theface (33) of the rear inner channel (14) (see FIGS. 4 and 5). As to themounting of the image carrying sheets (18), they may also have adhesivemeans, although due to the normal closure effect of the easel flap (42),such may not be necessary.

[0033] Another embodiment of the invention would be in the nature of atrivet (not shown) where the inserts (16) and/or the sheet elements (18)may be ceramic, with the pane (17) and easel (19) omitted; and yetanother embodiment may be used as a home or office decor framework,wherein the provision of the easel (19) would be unnecessary. It shouldbe noted that the shape of the frame (11) is not limited to arectangular shape, but may—in plan, have any geometrical shape, with allother elements appropriately changed in shape as to plan. In eachalternative embodiment, nevertheless, the provision of interchangeableinserts (16) with varying decorative faces would be retained.

[0034] In use, the decorative inserts (16), (16 a), (16 b), etc. arehand loaded by placing them front-to-back within the channel (13) asbest shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The adhesive (39) of the rear most insert(16 c), for example, adheres to the face (27) of the channel (13), andsuch that each decorative face of each insert faces forwardly out of thechannel (13). To remove, interchange and re-stack the inserts (13)merely requires finger manipulation of each insert (13), although a thininstrument such as a knife or the tip of a screwdriver may be used topry out the inserts (13) as desired.

[0035] The image carrying sheets or plates (18) are easily changedsimilarly, by pivoting away and then returning the easel flap used—whenclosed, to hold the sheets (18) within the channel (14), the L-shapedchannel (14) forming a closeable pocket within the rear of the fame(11).

[0036] It is seen, therefore, that structure is provided with which theobjects of the invention are achieved.

I claim:
 1. A decorative storage frame assembly comprising: a framehaving a front, a back, and an opening centrally formed therein; meansforming a first channel peripherally about said opening in said front ofsaid frame; means forming a second channel peripherally about saidopening in said rear of said frame; one or more inserts adapted to fitin a stacked relationship within the first channel, the outermost insertvisible to the front of said frame; and one or more image carryingplates mounted in a confined manner within said second channel, with asaid plate visible to the front of said frame through said opening. 2.The decorative storage frame assembly of claim 1, wherein the lateralwidth and height dimensions of said second channel are less than thosedimensions of said first channel, whereby the depth of said firstchannel within said frame is not limited by the location of said secondchannel.
 3. The decorative storage frame assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid decorative inserts have varied decorative sides relative to eachother.
 4. The decorative storage frame assembly of claim 3, wherein saiddecorative inserts are removably attached to each other, and each insertis adapted to be removably attached to said front channel.
 5. Thedecorative storage frame assembly of claim 4, wherein the said firstchannel has a face lying within a first plane, and also has an outermostplane lying generally parallel to said first plane, and said inserts liebetween said first plane and said outermost planes.
 6. The decorativestorage frame assembly of claim 5, wherein an easel is secured to therear of said frame for supporting said frame in an upright position,said easel returnably movable away from said frame rear to permitremovable loading of said plates within said second channel.